[EUROPE] No more than two points separate the top two teams in Europe's five major leagues. Schalke 04 took over the top spot from Bayern Munich in Germany, while Roma closed to within one point of Inter Milan in Italy. For a look at the races ...

Note: Montpellier missed a chance to take over sole possession of first place when it fell to Lille, 4-1. Bordeaux and Marseille, which met in Saturday's League Cup final, both now have two games in hand.

Note: Schalke 04 took over first place when it beat third-place Bayer Leverkusen, 2-0, thanks to a pair of Kevin Kuranyi goals the first half, and Bayern Munich fell to VfB Stuttgart, 2-1. To make matters worse, Dutch winger Arjen Robben pulled a calf muscle against Stuttgart and is doubtful for Bayern's Champions League game against Manchester United.

Note: For a while, Atletico Madrid looked like it might win its first Madrid derby in more than 10 years, but Real Madrid game back from 1-0 down to win, 3-2, on Sunday. Former Liverpool players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa and Gonzalo Higuain scored for Real Madrid, which regained the lead over Barcelona on goal difference.